Floor cleaning apparatus



April 18, 1967 E. A. OTTO 3,314,099

FLOOR CLEANING APPARATUS Filed June 7, 1965 4 Sheets$heet l ED A. OTTOINVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS E. A. OTTO April 18, 1967 FLOOR CLEANI NG APPARATUS 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 7, 1965 ED A. OTTO INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS April 18 19 7 E. A. OTTO 3,314,0 9

FLOOR CLEANING APPARATUS Filed June 7, 1965 4 Shets-Sheet 5 ED A. OT TOINVENTOR ATTORNEYS April 1967 E. A. OTTO FLOOR CLEANING APPARATUS 4Sheets-Sheet 4 I Filed June 7, 1965 ED A. OTTO INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,314,099 FLOOR CLEANING APPARATUS Ed A.Otto, 5701 W. Earll Drive, Phoenix, Ariz. 85031 Filed June 7, 1965, Ser.No. 461,701 12 Claims. (Cl. 15-385) My invention relates to an improvedfloor cleaning apparatus, and more particularly to a floor cleaningapparatus in which rotary cleaning action is combined with suction toremove dirt or dust loosened thereby.

Vacuum cleaning devices have been widely employed for a long time. Thesedevices have been adapted in size and shape to accomplish relativelyeffective cleaning of rugs, Venetian blinds, car floors, upholstery, orthe like. Heretofore, no suitable apparatus has been devised with whicha large, hard-surfaced floor may be cleaned and, if desired,simultaneously polished, using the advantages of vacuum apparatus.

Large hard-surfaced floors, such as gymnasium floors, meeting hallfloors, or the like have usually required a number of specific steps intheir cleaning and maintenance. Usually, the floor itself was scrubbedwith soap or detergent and water and then rinsed and dried. After thefloor was dried, the wax or similar coating was applied and then buitedto give the desired finish. The buffing operation ordinarily left apowdery residue of superfluous wax which was removed by dusting,dry-mopping or the like. Further maintenance of the floor, in situationswhere washing of the floor was not required, involved rebutfing thefloor with subsequent removal of the dust, loose wax, or the like.Because of the number of individual, time-consuming steps and thevariety of apparatus required, maintenance of a large, hard-surfacedfloor usually has been expensive.

Cleaning apparatus employing rotary brushes rotating about a verticalaxis or axes have proved to be most desirable for the cleaning of largehard-surfaced floor areas. A characteristic of rotary brushes of thistype is that loose dirt coming in contact with the brushes tends to bethrown away from the brushes. For this reason, it is desirable to have asuction head forward of the brushes in the directionof travel of theapparatus in order to pick up loose dirt so that it will not be thrownby contact with the brushes. Known vacuuming devices have suction headpositioned to pick up dirt and other debris thrown by the brushes whenthe apparatus is pushed in a normal direction of travel. Often it isdesirable for the operator to move his apparatus in an oblique orsideways direction in which case the suction head is no longer forwardof the brushes. In such situations, the advantages of having a vacuumapparatus in conjunction with the rotary brushes are substantially lost.

It is therefore a principal object of my invention to provide a floorcleaning apparatus including a movable suction head to provide a highdegree of flexibility in direction of operative travel.

It is another object of my invention to provide an apparatus with whicha floor may be cleaned and the dust or other debris removed in a singlestep with a single apparatus.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be come apparent tothose skilled in the art in the course of the following specificationand claims when taken in view of the accompanying drawings.

Briefly, the objects and advantages of my invention are attained with afloor cleaning apparatus comprising a rotary brush supported by ahousing and operated by a motor or other power means. A suction head ispositioned to ride on the floor near a portion of the periphery of therotary brush. The suction head communicates with a suction chamber andis operatively connected to a 3,314,099 Patented Apr. 18, 1967reversible power means such as an electric motor for control of itsposition around the periphery of the rotary brush. The apparatus isoperated by means of a handle secured to the body of the floor cleaningapparatus and the handle carries switch means for actuating theapparatus.

A better understanding of my invention may be obtained in View of theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of one embodiment of my apparatus whereina single rotary brush is employed;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional elevational view taken along 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view, partially in section, taken along 3-3of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a bottom isometric view illustrating certain details in thesuction head employed in the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is an isometric View of another embodiment of my inventionwherein two rotary brushes are employed.

FIGURE 6 is a top view of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 5 with aportion of the handle: removed to conserve space;

FIGURE 7 is an isometric view of a suction head of the type particularlyadapted for use with the embodiment of my apparatus illustrated inFIGURE 5;

FIGURE 8 is a bottom view of the suction head illustrated in FIGURE 7and taken along 8-8 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a partial sectional side view taken along 9-9 of FIGURE 7illustrating a preferred means of communication between a suctionchamber and a suction head; and

FIGURE 10 is an exploded partial isometric view further illustrating thesuction head connection illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 9.

Referring noW to the drawings, and particularly to FIGURES 1-4, a rotarybrush 20 driven by an electric motor 21 is mounted in a housing 22. Themotor and the housing are secured together in assembly as by bolts orrivets 24. A handle member generally designated 25 is secured to themotor-housing assembly by rivets 26 engaging through apertures in aflattened portion 28 of the handle member 25 and a lug member 29 securedto the motor-housing assembly. The handle member 25, thus joined to themotor-housing assembly may be moved in an up and down direction toadjust for differences in operator height or to permit the apparatus totravel under low hanging obstacles. l I

A reversible electric motor 30 is secured to the motor 21 which drivesthe rotary 'brush 2! by means of a clip 32 and has a minor pulley member33 secured to its output shaft 34. A major pulley 36 rotates about anaxle 3'7 secured to the top of the electric motor 21. Axle 37 is in theshape of a round-headed stud and has a threaded smaller dimensionedportion 38 at the end removed from the round head 40. A nut 41 securesthe axle member 37 to a bracket 42 which is in turn secured to the topof electric motor 21.

A suction distributor generally designated 44 is in the shape of ahollow chamber secured to the top surface of major pulley 36 as bywelding. The round head sealingly engages the inside of the bottom end45 of the suction distributor 44. If desired, a washer or other sealingmeans 46 may be positioned between the round head 40 of the axle member37 and the bottom end 45 of the suction distributor 44 to improve theseal. A belt or other power transmission means 48 engages the pulleys 33and as and provides driving communication therebetween. When thereversible electric motor 30 drives pulley 33, suction distributor 44 iscaused to rotate with major pulley 36. Desirably, pulley 33 issubstantially 3 smaller than major pulley 36 to afford better control bythe operator of the apparatus.

Suction distributor 44 has a connector fitting 49 rotatably secured toits top end. The connector fitting 49 is in the form of a tubular elbowhaving an outwardly extending flange 59 at one end. The other end of theconnector fitting 49 is adapted to engage a suction conduit 52 which maybe in the form of a hose or pipe. The suction conduit 52 communicatesbetween the connector fitting 49 and a suction chamber in a suctionapparatus of any desired type. A circular plate 53 has an inwardlyextending ear 54 which engages over outwardly extending flange 50. Theplate 53 is secured to the top of the suction distributor 44 as by bolts56 or the like. Connector fitting 49 is in registry with an aperture 57defined by the top of the suction distributor 44, and outwardlyextending flange 50 is in sliding rotatable engagement between the topof the suction distributor and the inwardly extending ear 54. In thismanner, suction distributor 44 freely may be rotated relative toconnector fitting 49, if desired.

A suction head generally designated 58 has an elongated arcuate shapeand is positioned to slide along the fioor near the periphery of therotary brush 20. The suction head 58 has a plurality of openings in itsbottom surface 69 which is substantially flat. Near each end of thesuction head, substantially hollow nose members 61 extend substantiallyradially outwardly therefrom. The nose members 61 communicate with theinterior of the suction head and are open on their bottom surfaces andin their outermost extremities 62. The open bottoms of the nose members61 are contiguous to openings in the flat bottom 60 of the suction head58. Openings 63 in the forward or leading portion of the suction headare adapted to pick up large items such as cigarette butts or the likewhich will slide along the suction head and not otherwise be picked up.

At least one of the openings 64 located in the bottom surface 66 of thesuction head 58 has a further slot-like contiguous opening 65 extendingupwardly in the rearward portion of the suction head 58 toward therotary brush 20 to pick up dust or debris thrown by the brush. A pair ofsuction pipes 66 communicate between the suction head 58 and the suctiondistributor 44 and provide support for the suction head 58. The suctionpipes '66 are preferably of a rigid or semi-rigid material andcommunicate through and are supported by the substantially vertical likewall portion of the suction distributor 44. A pair of substantiallyvertical tubular extensions '68 are welded to the suction head 58 andcommunicate with the interior thereof. An outwardly-extendingcircumferential flange 69 on the tubular extensions 68 sealingly engagesthe interior of the suction pipe 66 and is adapted to engage withinwardly extending flange 75) on suction pipe 66, thereby to support thesuction head 58 when the apparatus is raised from the floor.

In use, the electric motor 21 drives the rotary brush thereby to cleanor polish the floor under consideration. Suction is applied to thesuction hose 52 and thereby to the suction head 58. Dirt or dust,loosened by the action of the rotating brush 20, passes through the slot65 and is removed through the suction hose 52. As the apparatus ispushed a forward direction, loose dirt is picked up by the suction head58 passing thereover and large items are picked up by slot 63. Nosemembers 61 facilitate access to small corners or the like.

One of the purposes of having the suction head 58 ahead of the brush 20when cleaning or polishing a floor is so that loose dirt or dust ispicked up prior to its contact with the brush. There is a tendency forloosened dirt to be thrown by the brush away from contact with thesuction head at an angle of about 90 from the direction of travel.Loosened dirt thrown by the brush is picked up by slot 65.

When it is desired to change the direction of travel of the apparatus,the suction head may be kept forward of the brush by actuating a switch72 on the handle of the apparatus which will cause the reversible motor30 to rotate in the desired direction. Rotation of the motor 30 iscontinued until the suction head moves to its desired position.Preferably, switch 72 is of a spring-loaded, three-position,normally-open switch. Thus, when the switch is pushed to the left, thesuction head will rotate in a counter-clockwise direction or to the leftas seen by the operator. On release, the switch returns to itsnormally-open central or upward position. When the switch is pressedtoward the right, the suction head is caused to rotate around the brushin a clockwise direction or to the right as viewed by the operator.Release of the switch again returns it to its normally-open centralposition. In this manner, the suction head readily is maintained in theappropriate position relative to the brush to pick up loose dust, dirtand the like as well as dirt loosened by contact with the rotatingbrush.

With reference to FIGURES 5-l0, a pair of oppositelyrotating brushes arepositioned in and rotatablysupported by a housing 81. An electric motor82 is mounted on the housing in assembly therewith and drives thebrushes 80 in opposite rotary directions. A handle member generallydesignated 84 is adjustably secured to the housing 81 and carriessuitable switching apparatus. A suction motor or apparatus 85 includinga suction chamber is also mounted on the housing 81 and is carriedthereby.

A pair of major pulleys 86 are rotatably-mounted on top of housing 81substantially oo-axial with the rotary brushes. Suction distributors 88are secured to the top central portions of the major pulleys 86 androtate therewith. A Y-shaped suction hose 89 communicates between thesuction distributors 88 and the suction chamber in suction apparatus 85.Substantially rigid suction pipes 90 extend outwardly from the suctiondistributors 88 and are supported thereby. Suction pipes 90 have a plate92 secured to their ends removed from the suction distributors 88 as bywelding or the like.

A pair of suction heads, generally designated 93, are positioned to rideon the floor near the periphery of the rotary brushes 80. Each suctionhead 93, when viewed from the top as FIGURE 6, or from the bottom as inFIGURE 8, is in the form of a right-angle subtended by an arc, the arehaving substantially the same center of curvature as it respectiverotary brush 80.

With particular reference to FIGURE 8, the bottom of the suction head 93has flat portions 94 adapted to ride along the floor being cleaned orpolished. The interior of the suction head 93 is substantially hollowand its periphery, except for the floor-engaging portions 94, is raisedslightly from the level of the floor. A channel 96 between thefloor-engaging portions 94 communicates be tween the corner of thesuction head and its interior por' tion. The upper portion of thesuction head 93 is in the form of a hollow chamber 97 which defines aslot 98 in its inner vertical wall 100. A pair of verticalinwardlyextending ears 101 are secured to the vertical portion 100 ofthe suction head 93 on each side of the slot 98. The plate 92 secured tothe suction pipe 90, slidingly engages between the vertical portion 100and the ears 101 secured thereto whereby adjustable communication ismaintained between the suction chamber in suction apparatus 85 and theinterior of suction heads 93. Arresting members 102 maintain plate 92 inengagement with ears 101 in the event that the suction heads should forsome reason be lifted completely from the floor as by tilting theapparatus backward on wheels 103. The construction of the suc' tionjoints illustrated in FIGURES 7, 9, and 10 is particularly useful whenthe floor over which the cleaning apparatus travels is not exactlylevel. The suction heads may r1de up or down as the fioor surfacedictates without loss in communication between the interior of suctionheads 93 and the suction chamber in suction apparatus 85.

A reversible motor 104 is supported by a bracket 105 secured to thehousing 81 and has a minor pulley 106 secured to its drive shaft. Thepulley 106 is a dual pulley to facilitate engagement with a pair ofbelts 198 operatively communicating between the pulley 106 and the majorpulleys 86. One of the belts 108 is crossed over so that the majorpulleys 86 will rotate in opposite directions when the reversible motor104 is actuated. By actuation of the reversible motor 104, the suctionheads 93 may be positioned forward of the housing 81 as illustrated inFIGURE 5 or rearward as illustrated in FIGURE 6, or in any positiontherebetween. Actuation of the reversible motor 104 is preferably by aspring-loaded, normallyopen switch 109 similar to the switch describedin connection with the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 1-4.

Because of the opposite rotation of the rotary brushes 80, substantialstability and easy directional control are obtained in the use of mycleaning apparatus. The shape of the suction heads 93 and particularlychannels 96, permits easy cleaning and removal if dirt from hard toreach corners.

If desired, a stationary suction head may be positioned near the centerof the front of the housing 81 to pick up debris directly in front ofthe apparatus and which might otherwise be thrown clear of the suctionheads 93 by the rotary brushes 80.

Various modifications may be made in my invention without departing fromthe spirit or scope thereof and it is to be understood that I limitmyself only as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Floor cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a rotary brush for sweeping a floor,

(b) said brush rotatable about a substantially vertical axis,

(c) a motor for rotating said brush,

(d) means for supporting said brush and said motor in assembly,

(e) a suction head positioned near the periphery of said brush andadapted to contact said floor,

(f) said suction head adapted to communicate with a suction chamber,

(g) a reversible motor mounted on said brush and motor assembly, meansconnecting said reversible motor to said suction head and adapted torotate said suction head substantially about the periphery of saidrotary brush,

(h) switch means for actuating said reversible motor,

and

(i) handle means secured to said brush and motor assembly.

2. Floor cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a rotary brush for sweeping a floor,

(b) said brush rotatable about a substantially vertical axis,

(c) a motor for rotating said brush,

(d) a housing supporting said brush and said motor in assembly, I a

(e) a suction head positioned near the periphery of said brush andadapted to contact said floor,

(f) a hollow suction distributor,

(g) support and conduit means communicating between said suction headand said suction distributor,

(b) said suction distributor adapted to communicate with a suctionchamber,

(i) a reversible motor,

(j) means engaging between said reversible motor and said suctiondistributor for rotating said suction distributor and said suction head,i

(k) switch means for actuating said reversible motor,

and

(l) a handle member adjustably secured to said brush and motor assembly.

3. Floor cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a rotary brush for sweeping a floor,

(b) said brush rotatable about a substantially vertical axis,

(c) a motor for rotating said brush,

(d) a housing supporting said brush and said motor in assembly,

(e) a suction head positioned near the periphery of said brush andadapted to contact said floor,

(f) said suction head having at least one opening in its bottom,

(8) a hollow suction distributor,

(h) tubular extension and suction pipe means communicating between saidsuction'head and said suction distributor,

(i) said suction distributor adapted to communicate with a suctionchamber,

(j) areversible motor,

(k) driving means engaging between said reversible motor and saidsuction distributor for rotating said suction distributor,

(1) switch means for actuating said reversible motor,

and

(m) a handle member adjustably secured to said brush and motor assembly.

4. Floor sweeping apparatus comprising:

(a) a rotary brush for sweeping a floor,

(b) said brush rotatable about a substantially vertical axis,

(c) a motor for rotating said brush,

((1) a housing supporting said brush and said motor in assembly,

(e) a hollow, arcuate suction head positioned near the periphery of saidbrush and adapted to contact said floor,

(f) said suction head having a plurality of openings in its bottom andat least one opening extending upwardly in its rearward portion,

(g) nose members extending substantially radially outwardly from saidsuction head,

(h) tubular extension and suction pipe means secured to said suctionhead and a suction distributor and communicating between the interiorthereof,

(i) said suction distributor comprising a hollow chamber adapted tocommunicate with a suction'chamber,

(j) a driven pulley secured to said suction distributor,

(k) a reversible electric motor having; a driving pulley rotatable withits output shaft and smaller than said driven pulley,

(1) driving means engaging between said driving pulley and said drivenpulley,

(m) a handle member adjustably secured to said brush and motor assembly,and

(n) switch means for actuating said reversible motor.

'5. Floor cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a rotary brush for sweeping a floor,

( b) said brush rotatable about a substantially vertical axis,

(c) an electric motor rotating said brush,

(d) a housing supporting said brush and said motor in assembly,

(e) a suction head positioned near the periphery of said brush,

(f) said suction head comprising an arcuate tubular member adapted tocontact said floor,

(g) said suction head having a plurality of openings in its bottom andat least one opening extending upwardly in its rearward portion,

(h) nose members extending substantially radially outwardly from saidsuction head and contiguous to openings in the bottom of said suctionhead,

(i) vertical tubular extensions secured to said suction head andcommunicating with the interior thereof,

(j) each said extension slidingly secured to a suction pipe engagingthereover,

(k) each suction pipe secured to and communicating with the interior ofa suction distributor,

(1) said suction distributor comprising a hollow chamber having top andbottom end-s,

(m) a connector fitting in the form of a tubular elbOW adapted tocommunicate with a suction chamber and rotatably secured to the top ofsaid suction distributor,

(n) a major pulley secured to the bottom end of said suction distributorand rotatable about an axle supported by said electric motor,

() a reversible electric motor secured to said electric motor,

(p) said reversible electric motor having a pulley rotatable with itsoutput shaft and smaller than said major pulley,

(q) a belt drivingly engaging between said pulley and said major pulley,

(r) a handle member adjustably secured to said housing, and

(s) a three-position, normally-open, spring-loaded switch mounted onsaid handle member for actuating said reversible motor.

6. Floor cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a rotary brush for sweeping a floor,

(b) said brush rotatable with a substantially vertical axle,

(c) an electric motor driving said brush,

(d) a housing supporting said brush and said motor in assembly,

(e) a hollow suction head positioned near the periphery of said brush,

(f) said suction head comprising an arcuate tubular member having a flatbottom adapted to contact said floor,

(g) said suction head having a plurality of openings in its flat bottom,

(h) at least one of said openings having a contiguous, slot-like openingextending upwardly in the rearward portion of said suction head,

(i) hollow nose members having open ends and bottoms extendingsubstantially radially outwardly from said suction head near each endthereof and contiguous to openings in the bottom of said suction head,

(j) two vertical tubular extensions secured to the top of said suctionhead and communicating with the interior thereof,

(k) each said extension slidingly secured to a suction pipe engagingover said tubular extension,

(1) said suction pipes secured to and communicating with the interior ofa suction distributor,

(m) said suction distributor comprising a hollow chamber having a flattop and bottom ends and defining an aperture in its top end,

(n) a connector 'fitting in the form of a tubular elbow adapted tocommunicate with a suction chamber and rotatably secured to the top ofsaid suction distributor in registry with the aperture defined thereby,

(o) a major pulley secured to the bottom end of said suction distributorand rotatable about an axle supported by the top of said electric motor,

(p) a reversible electric motor secured to the side of said electricmotor,

(q) said reversible electric motor having a pulley rotatable with itsoutput shaft and smaller than said major pulley,

(r) a belt drivingly engaging between said pulley and said major pulley,

(s) a handle member adjustably secured to said housing, and

(t) a three-position, normally-open, spring-loaded 0 switch mounted onsaid handle member for actuating said reversible motor.

7. Floor cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a rotary brush for sweeping a floor,

'(h) at least one of said openings having a contiguous,

slot-like opening extending upwardly in the rearward portion of saidsuction head, and at least one of said openings having a contiguous,slot-like opening extending upwardly in the front portion of saidsuction head,

(i) two hollow nose members having open ends and bottoms extendingsubstantially radially outwardly from said suction head near each endthereof,

(j) said open bottoms in said nose members contiguous to openings in thebottom of said suction head,

(k) two vertical tubular extensions secured to the top of said suctionhead and communicating with the interior thereof,

(1) each said extension having a flange extending outwardly from itsupper end,

(m) two suction pipes engaging over said tubular extensions and havinginwardly extending flanges engaging the flanges on said extensions,

(n) said suction pipes secured to the side of and communicating with theinterior of a suction distributor,

(0) said suction distributor comprising a hollow chamber having flat topand bottom ends,

(p) said suction distributor defining an aperture in its top end andhaving a circular plate surrounding said aperture, said plate having aninwardly extending ear,

(q) a connector fitting in the form of a tubular elbow,

(I) said connector fitting adapted to communicate with a suction chamberand having an outwardly extending flange at its bottom end rotatablyengaging between said ear and the top of said suction distributor,

(s) a major pulley secured to the bottom end of said suction distributorand rotatable about an axle supported by a bracket secured to the top ofsaid electric motor,

(t) a reversible electric motor secured to the side of said electricmotor by a clip,

(u) said reversible electric motor having a pulley rotatable with itsoutput shaft and smaller than said major pulley,

(v) a belt drivingly engaging between said pulley and said major pulley,

(w) a handle member adjustably secured to said housing, and

(x) a three-position, normally-open, spring-loaded switch mounted onsaid handle member for actuating said reversible motor.

8. Floor cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a pair of rotary brushes for sweeping a floor,

(b) said brushes rotatable about substantially vertical axes,

(c) a motor for rotating said brushes in opposite directions,

(d) means for supporting said motor and brushes in assembly,

(e) a pair of suction heads positioned near the peripheries of saidbrushes,

(f) each said suction head adapted to contact the floor,

(g) said suction heads adapted to communicate with a suction chamber,

(h) a reversible motor supported by said brush and motor assembly, meansconnecting said reversible motor to said suction heads and adapted torotate said suction heads in opposite directions substantially about theperipheries of said rotary brushes,

(i) switch means for actuating said reversible motor,

and

(j) handle means secured to said brush and motor assembly.

9. Floor cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a pair of rotary brushes for sweeping a floor,

(b) said brushes rotatable about substantially vertical axes,

(c) a motor for rotating said brushes in opposite directions,

(d) a housing supporting said motor and brushes in assembly,

(e) a pair of suction heads ripheries of said brushes, (f) each saidsuction head comprising a hollow, openbottomed member having flatportions adapted to contact the floor,

(g) a pair of suction pipes slidingly secured to said suction heads andcommunicating with the interiors thereof,

(h) a pair of rotatable suction distributors supportingly engaging saidsuction pipes and communicating therewith,

(i) a suction chamber, means communicating between said suctiondistributors and said suction chamber,

(j) a reversible motor supported by said brush and motor assembly,

(k) driving means engaging between said reversible motor and saidsuction distributors for rotating said suction distributors in oppositedirections,

(1) a switch for actuating said reversible motor, and

(In) a handle member adjustably secured to said brush and motorassembly.

10. Floor cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a pair of rotary brushes for sweeping a floor,

(b) said brushes rotatable about substantially vertical axes,

(c) a motor for rotating said brushes in opposite directions,

(d) a housing supporting said motor and brushes in assembly,

(e) a pair of suction heads ripheries of said brushes, f) each saidsuction bead comprising a hollow, openbottomed member having flatportions adapted to contact the floor,

(g) each said suction head having a rear wall defining a vertical slot,

(h) a pair of suction pipes slidingly secured to said inner walls ofsaid suction heads in registry with said slots,

(i) a pair of driven pulleys rotatably mounted on said housing androtatable on substantially vertical axes.

(j) a pair of suction distributors mounted on said driven pulleys androtatable therewith,

(k) said suction distributors supportingly engaging said suction pipesto communicate with and support said suction heads,

(1) a suction chamber, a suction hose communicating between said suctiondistributors and said suction chamber,

(In) a reversible motor supported by said brush and motor assembly.

(11) a driving pulley rotatable with said reversible motor,

() driving means engaging between said driven pulleys and said drivingpulley for rotating said driven pulleys in opposite directions,

positioned near the pepositioned near the pc- (p) a handle memberadjustably secured to said brush and motor assembly, and

(q) a switch mounted on said handle for actuating said reversible motor.

11. Floor cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a pair of rotary brushes for sweeping a floor,

(b) said brushes rotatable about substantially vertical axes,

(c) an electric motor for rotating said brushes in opposite directions,

(d) a housing supporting said motor and brushes in assembly,

(e) a pair of suction heads ripheries of said brushes, (f) each saidsuction head comprising a hollow, openbottomed member in the form of aright angle subtended by an arc,

(g) each said suction head having flat portions adapted to contact thefloor,

(h) each said suction head having a rear wall defining a vertical slot,

(i) a pair of suction pipes, each slidingly secured to said rear wall ofeach said suction head in registry with said slot,

(j) a pair of major pulleys rotatably mounted on said housing andsubstantially co-axial with said brushes,

(k) a pair of hollow suction distributors mounted on said major pulleysand rotatable therewith,

(1) said suction pipes supportedly engaging in the side portions of saidsuction distributors,

(m) a suction chamber, a Y-shaped suction hose communicating betweensaid suction distributors and said suction chamber,

(11) a reversible electric motor supported by said hous- (0) a minordual pulley rotatable with the drive shaft of said reversible electricmotor and smaller than said major pulleys,

(p) a pair of. belts drivingly engaging between said major pulleys andsaid minor pulley, one of said belts crossed over to rotate said majorpulleys in opposite directions,

(q) a handle member adjustably secured to said housing, and

(r) a three-position, normally-open, switch mounted on said handle forreversible motor.

12. Floor cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a pair of rotary brushes for sweeping a floor,

(b) said brushes rotatable about substantially vertical axes,

(c) an electric motor for rotating said brushes in opposite directions,

((1) a housing supporting said motor and brushes in assembly,

(e) a pair of suction heads ripheries of said brushes, (if) each saidsuction head comprising a hollow, openbottomed member in the form of aright angle subtended by an arc,

(g) each said suction head having flat portions forming a channelextending between the right angle and the interior of the suction headand adapted to engage the floor,

(h) each said suction head having a rear wall defining a vertical slot,

(i) a pair of inwardly extending vertical ears secured on each side ofsaid slot,

(j) a pair of suction pipes, each having a plate secured to one endthereof, said plate slidingly engaging be tween said earsand said wallof each said suction thead,

(k) a pair of major pulleys rotatably mounted on said housingsubstantially co-axially with said brushes,

positioned near the pespring-loaded actuating said positioned near thepe- (l) a pair of suction distributors mounted on said major pulleys androtatable therewith,

(m) each said suction distributor comprising a hollow cylinder definingopenings in its top and side portions,

(11) said suction pipes supportedly engaging in the openings in the sideportions of said suction distributors,

(o) a suction chamber, a Y-shaped suction hose communicating between thetops of said suction distributors and said suction chamber,

(p) a reversible motor supported by a bracket mounted on said housing,

(q) a minor dual pulley rotatable with the drive shaft of saidreversible electric motor and smaller than said major pulleys,

(r) a pair of belts drivingly engaging between said major pulleys andsaid minor pulley, one of said belts crossed over to rotate said majorpulleys in opposite directions,

(s) a handle member adjustably secured to said housing, and

(t) a threeposition, normally-open, spring-loaded switch mounted on saidhandle for actuating said reversible motor.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,149,453 3/1939Longshore et al 15320 FOREIGN PATENTS 486,499 6/1938 Great Britain.

ROBERT W. MICHELL, Primary Examiner.

1. FLOOR CLEANING APPARATUS COMPRISING: (A) A ROTARY BRUSH FOR SWEEPINGA FLOOR, (B) SAID BRUSH ROTATABLE ABOUT A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL AXIS,(C) A MOTOR FOR ROTATING SAID BRUSH, (D) MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID BRUSHAND SAID MOTOR IN ASSEMBLY, (E) A SUCTION HEAD POSITIONED NEAR THEPERIPHERY OF SAID BRUSH AND ADAPTED TO CONTACT SAID FLOOR, (F) SAIDSUCTION HEAD ADAPTED TO COMMUNICATE WITH A SUCTION CHAMBER, (G) AREVERSIBLE MOTOR MOUNTED ON SAID BRUSH AND MOTOR ASSEMBLY, MEANSCONNECTING SAID REVERSIBLE MOTOR TO SAID SUCTION HEAD AND ADAPTED TOROTATE SAID SUCTION HEAD SUBSTANTIALLY ABOUT THE PERIPHERY OF SAIDROTARY BRUSH, (H) SWITCH MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID REVERSIBLE MOTOR, AND(I) HANDLE MEANS SECURED TO SAID BRUSH AND MOTOR ASSEMBLY.